The First Door to the World of Art: Marina Stognieva’s Debut Exhibition in Kyiv, 2018

The First Door to the World of Art: Marina Stognieva’s Debut Exhibition in Kyiv, 2018

It was autumn. The Central House of Artists in Kyiv — a space well known to those who have ever sought inspiration among the works of Ukrainian painters — was opening a new group exhibition. Among the participating artists was Marina Stognieva. For her, it was the first public appearance in a professional art space.

Her paintings stood out with their lightness and summery breath. These were bright, gentle compositions — calm, translucent, filled with a sense of joy and freshness. There was no pressure, no pretence — only a pure presence of colour and mood, something you instinctively wanted to trust.

When asked about the path that led her to this moment, Marina responded sincerely:

“For a long time, I painted just for myself. In quiet solitude, I created what didn’t need a viewer — only honesty with myself. These works were part of my personal journey, my silence, my search, and introspection. And at the same time — a silent longing to one day be heard.

That’s why this first exhibition was such a turning point for me. I allowed the world to see what I had created with love, doubts, and hope. It was a kind of introduction — between the viewer and my inner world, through my language of colour and light.

From that moment on, my public path in art began. And although many new exhibitions, journeys, and projects have happened since then, this — the first — will always remain special. Because it was a door. A door I finally found the courage to open.”